Coaching as a means for Retrospectives

Proposer: Ralph

Participants: Jutta, Aino, Sandra, Ilja, Sebastian S.

This session turned more into a discussion on coaching and facilitation…

• use coaching skills in facilitation
• use facilitation skills in coaching
• coaching and facilitation as a continuum
• we want neutrality of the coach/facilitator (also regarding domain and e.g. “agile” knowledge)
• Facilitator and coach are “process” experts - one for facilitation and the other for coaching

We think, coaching is (in comparison to facilitation)

• less busy
• more self-reflection
• needs more trust in themselves and in the coach
• more confidence radiated by coach
• more revealing, vulnerable
• coach reframes and emphasizes the positive
• coaching requires even deeper safety

Preparation:

• Coaching: collect some questions you feel comfortable with that guide the coaching process
• Facilitation: prepare exercises, etc

Facilitation is more short-term than coaching where coaching is more personal-changing approach towards a greater goal. Coaching is more vision oriented.

• Some said, in coaching one would need the allowance to challenge more, to help people to get out of comfort zone.
• “As agile coach I also know when not to give an answer.”
• We can wear different hats for our role - not sure this is good for a coach.

• Shared spirit: A ⇒ asks B, what would C say… ? + extra chair for the group spirit
  • SANDRA, could you please fill out more about it?

• Say yes to…, say no too
  • Example: to say yes to working in pairs, I will say no to checking my email every 10 minutes

• positive observation homework: please write down, whenever you see … (something positiv) is happening

• offer coaching for retrospectives as a an experiment to the team

• Solution focussed Coaching
• Co-Active Coaching
  • Fulfillment, Balance, Process
• ORSC: Organization & Relationship Systems Coaching

• Appreciation
• Venting - all negative things to the coach
• Ressource Hunting (Gathering)
• Find Team Vision and the purpose for that / meaning
• Find the goal for the session
• Establish a contract with the team (psychological contracting)
  • communication, collaboration, within the team and with the coach, expectations towards the coach, handling of answers

• Coaching for the team and facilitator through observing the retrospective
• Work with facilitator to prepare a retrospective